These days Marvel Comics is StarWarsing it up all over the place, not to mention the runaway success of their whole Cinematic Universe thing. Back in the 70's, though, they attached themselves to the Planet of the Apes juggernaut. Feast your eyes upon this glorious cover from their series. It's the wrong number of tentacles for a squid, but makes up for it with a scantily-clad savage girl so it's all good.

I don't speak French, but I bet my wife can pronounce the title of this Pierre Zaccone novel. Translated, the book is called The Octopuses of Paris. Tragically it is not about an army of octopodes laying seige to the Eiffel Tower, but rather a social commentary about the decadence of Parisian women. Ah, well.

As a bonus: Today is also Tom Baker's birthday. Remember that time the Fourth Doctor battled a giant octopus thing in The Power of Kroll? Ok, not necessarily the show's finest moment, but there was still this:

Sent in by reader 'My Sister', who lives three thousand miles away, here's a lovely brass octopus that she has set out to remind her of all of our childhood adventures. The photo next to it is of Haystack Rock in Oregon, where we used to go on family vacations.

When I proposed, all I had to do was take my lady to Disney World and find the perfect spot (Haunted Mansion). This poor guy has go on an actual underwater quest to rescue the ring from a voracious shark. Good thing he has the help of an adorable octopus.

Looking for the perfect t-shirt to wear to any upscale social event? Check out "Unipus", from Michael Houghton at Designed by Monkeys! He has even been kind enough to offer free shipping in the US for readers of this blog, just enter the discount code 'octolove' when you are checking out. Yay!

Meet Octavius the Snow Octopus! Over 500 hours of work was put into its creation. At 18 feet tall and over 35 feet wide, it is our largest sculpture to date! We are grateful that our work will benefit those in need.

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and spent about six months living in Vancouver, WA. I know exactly the spot where this photo was taken (although there wasn't a giant tentacle there the last time I drove by.) Hooray for Vancouver, and hooray for public art!

A special bonus octopus today! Beloved fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892. When I think of Tolkien and tentacles, of course the Watcher in the Water springs immediately to mind. Here then is John Howe's lovely illustration from The Fellowship of the Ring.

2016 is here, and it's time to throw away that old calendar and put up a new one. My recommendation: Meg Lymon's 2016 Cute Cephalapod Calendar. It includes an Orctopus, Furioso, Adventure Time, and of course this lovely Saintly Cephalapod.